THE ABSENT

CRIPPLED HEARTS

SOLIDARITY WITH THE FLESH EATING MOSAIC AND OTHER POEMS by Raj Dronamraju

Out Now

THE RETURN OF THE MAGNIFICENT NINNY AND OTHER POEMS by Raj Dronamraju

My first book of poetry available through Amazon and other online booksellers www.rajbooks.com

Friday, October 14, 2011

MY POLITICAL PLATFORM (RAJ DRONAMRAJU FOR PRESIDENT)

Had a funny conversation with a friend recently in Facebook and he asked me specifically what I would do if I was a president….So I thought about that and came with up with this list of things.

For me, the operating system here is getting away from ideology.Ideology creates gridlock and traps people in unattainable positions.Just because I believe A doesn’t mean I have to believe in B.I’m trying to fix problems for the greater good and for the long term survival of America as well as improve the world as a whole.

FOREIGN POLICY

Within 90 days of taking office, I will pull all troops out of Iraq and the majority out of Afghanistan (setting a strict deadline for the rest).Within the first year of my presidency, I will pull all troops out of Korea and the majority of the troops in Japan as well as other bases around the world.I will leave only the bare minimum necessary for the running of these bases and where I can I will close US military bases on foreign soil.

I will shut down Guantanamo Bay by executive order the first day I take office and I will move the prisoners to America where they will receive trials in US courts.

I will de-recognize the state of Israel.I will end all aid to Israel and also all military assistance.I will push the United Nations through the International Atomic Energy Agency to demand inspection of all Israeli nuclear sites.I will only recognize the state of Israel again once a Palestinian state that is free of Israeli domination and contains all land laid out in the original United Nations declaration has been created.I will slap sanctions on Israel until they comply with this.

I will declare Pakistan a terrorist nation and end all military assistance and aid to them.

I will open up unconditional talks with Iran.I will renew diplomatic ties with Venezuela and Bolivia.I will remove Cuba from the list of terrorist states and open up direct talks with them (as well as allowing travel)

I will make the following offer to China – cease aid to Myanmar and North Korea and encourage (pressure) a new form of government in those countries and we will de-recognize Taiwan and re-recognize it as a province of China.We will also remove all US military presence from Taiwan.

DRUG POLICY

I will, using an executive order on my first day in office, legalize marijuana federally.I will give the states 90 days to comply with this order and create their own systems for buying and selling with the caveat that all marijuana sales incur a sales tax of 20% with 10% going to the state for whatever they choose to spend it on and 10% going to the federal government to be split between paying down the debt and funding education.

I will assemble a panel to look into the legalization of other harder drugs and make all decisions on further drug legalization within the first two years of my presidency.

THE FEDERAL RESERVE

I will push legislation through congress to eliminate the Federal Reserve.I will refuse to allocate any money or appoint any new staff for the Fed.I will work with the congress in creating a fixed asset, a form of collateral, to guarantee US currency be it silver, gold, a combination of the two or something else.

HEALTH CARE

I will create a federally authorized cradle to grave government health care plan with each state responsible for running it themselves under strict guidelines.This will create government run health care facilities that will bypass private insurance. I will replace Obamacare with this system.

Those currently or about to go on Medicare and Medicaid will be transitioned into this system.The Medicare and Medicaid programs will cease to be necessary.

TAXES

I will eliminate all personal income taxes on those making under $100,000 a year.For married couples with children at home $150,000.I will increase taxes on everyone else as well as corporate taxes.

I will give a tax break to manufacturing companies who stay in the US as well as those who relocate back to the US from a foreign country.I will assess a financial penalty on those companies who move their facilities abroad.

I will create federal “sin taxes” that is higher sales taxes on cigarettes, alcohol, and foods that has no nutritional value as well as pornography and firearms.These monies will specifically go for payment on the debt.

EDUCATION

I will completely change current education policy.Most importantly I will eliminate the current “race to the top program” in particular the excessive focus on standardized teaching and the current abusive policies against teachers.

I will implement a system based on “I Can” meaning certain skills that students have to have and parts of knowledge that students have to know in order to move to the next grade.I will push for more focus on critical thinking.

I will create a federal plan for teachers to reach tenure in a more transparent, efficient way and a better benefit package for teachers including a housing allowance or providing housing.In return, I will ask the teachers’ unions to agree a more streamlined disciplinary process for problem teachers.

The states will be largely free to spend federal education monies the way they see fit however there will be criteria that must be taught in every state.The law of gravity is the same in California as it is in Georgia.

GOVERNMENT REFORM

I will slash the Department of Defense’s budget in half and I will also eliminate the CIA.Any necessary intelligence functions can be carried out by military intelligence.

I will eliminate the Department of Veterans’ Affairs.Any necessary functions can be carried out by the Department of Defense.

I will eliminate the Department of Commerce.Any necessary functions can be carried out by the Department of Labor.

I will eliminate the Department of Energy and the Department of Agriculture.Any necessary functions can be carried out by the Department of the Interior

ELECTION REFORM

I will support a constitutional amendment to create term limits of two terms for senators and six terms for congressman.

I will support legislation to get rid of the Electoral College and in place have a direct popular vote of the president.

I will push through a constitutional amendment to establish public financing of campaigns ONLY.All candidates can only spend the money given to them for their campaign by the government.

I will support legislation to create a national primary in which all primary elections during an election year all over the United States for the presidential candidates on down to local legislators from the political parties will be held at one time.

The election campaign season will be officially shortened to 60 days.

IMMIGRATION

I will push for a more streamlined process to becoming an American citizen with a timeline upon application.

I will push for a federal law eliminating driver’s licenses, tuition, and other legal documents or benefits for people who are breaking the law by being here illegally.

I support English as the official language of the United States and also an English Language proficiency test for all those who wish to be US citizens.

TRADE

I will withdraw America from the WTO.

I will repeal NAFTA.

In return for intellectual property enforcement and fairer trade practices, will allow China to continue pegging the Yuan to the dollar once we end the Federal Reserve system.

SOCIAL SECURITY

While protecting those who are already in it or are close to receiving benefits, I will transition Social Security into a bigger program with greater rate of return, some private investment, and the flexibility to use for other expenditures (such as home ownership) Basically, a citizen’s savings account with the restriction a certain percentage must be saved for retirement.

I will NOT raise the retirement age.

I will create a “lockbox” system so legislators cannot borrow from the Social Security account.

GUN CONTROL

I will convene a national conference on whether it is time to amend the second amendment to allow local governments the flexibility to deal with gun violence.

I will push for a nationwide handgun ban.

GAY MARRIAGE

I will sign an executive order recognizing gay marriages among federal staff and give them applicable status overriding laws in individual states.

I will refuse to enforce the Defense of Marriage act.

I will use the presidency as a bully pulpit to argue for a constitutional amendment to legalize gay marriage nationally.

MISCELLANEOUS

I will reverse the privatization of the prison system and make sure every prison in the USA is government (either state or federally) run.

I will cancel all contracts with private military contractors working with the US government.

I will sign an executive order eliminating the federal death penalty.I will give states financial incentives if they choose to eliminate their own death penalty (if it’s legal in their state).